The Novelty of Popery Opposed to the Antiquity of True Christianity, Book 7 · Controversy 11 · Chapter 1
CHAP. 1. Of the firſt Inſtitution of the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper.
IN the Queſtion of the real preſence of the Sacrament, M. du Perron leaving the holy Scripture, which can alone decide this difference, betakes himſelf altogether to the Fathers, who call that which we receive in the holy Communion the body of Chriſt. But ſince the Word of God is the only rule of our Faith, he ſhould at leaſt have done that honour to the Word of God, to let it ſpeak firſt.
We ſhall begin then with the Inſtitution of this holy Sacrament, ſuch as Chriſt made it among his Apoſtles; To which if all would keep themſelves, ſpeaking as Chriſt ſpake, and doing as he did, this controverſie would be ſoon ended; And a quarrel about which ſo much blood was ſpilt, would be changed into concord and a kind reconciliation.
In that inſtitution we find, that Chriſt ſitting at Supper with his face towards his Diſciples, ſpeaking to them in a known tongue, took bread, and having bleſſed it, brake it, and gave it to his Diſciples, ſaying that it was his body broken for them, commanding them to do this in remembrance of him. In all that we ſee, that Chriſt offered nothing unto God, that he ſpake not of ſacrifice, that he made no elevation, that there was no adoration of the Hoſt, that all did communicate in the two kinds, Chriſt ſaying, Take eate, drink ye all of this; that there was no bone of any Saint or relick hidden under the Table.
With that inſtitution compare the Maſs, in which the Prieſt ſtanding before an Altar, with his back turned to the people, ſpeaking in an unknown tongue, takes a round wafer, and ſpeaks to it with a low voice, and by a whiſper pretendeth to tranſubſtantiate it into fleſh, and to offer the body of Chriſt as a propitiatory ſacrifice for the redemption of ſouls, and makes an elevation of that Hoſt, and ſets it forth to be worſhipped, and depriveth the people of the cup, and very often eats alone, and asketh ſalvation of God by the merits of the Saints, whoſe bones are hidden under the Altar, and ſings Maſſes for the honour of the Saints, as the Maſs of Saint Rock, or Saint Marcel, and makes a ſacrifice of propitiation, not only for living men, but for the dead, and to make the corn thrive, and to heal beaſts. In a word, the change from the inſtitution is prodigious; Nothing of the Lords Supper can be known in it, and the whole action ſeems to be made purpoſely to correct Chriſt, and overthrow his inſtitution.
Then, that we may keep the right order, before we go further, we will ſet down the whole inſtitution of that holy Sacrament made by Chriſt, for from it the fundamental maxims muſt be drawn, which give light to this matter. It is labour in vain, to ſet out with great noiſe what men have ſaid, if we be ignorant of that Chriſt hath commanded.
Our Adverſaries continually alleadge theſe words of the inſtitution of this Sacrament, This is my body. Which words thus clipt and taken alone, might trouble weak conſciences. But the whole text giveth a great light to the matter.
The Goſpel relates,(a)Luke 22.19. foreign. that Chriſt took bread, and gave thanks and brake it, and gave unto his Diſciples, ſaying, This is my body which is given for you, this do in remembrance of me. Likewiſe alſo the cup after ſupper, ſaying, This cup is the New Teſtament in my blood, which is ſhed for you, (b)Matth. 26.27.Saint Matthew adds, that Chriſt giving the cup, ſaid, Drink ye all of it; and that having given the cup to his Diſciples, he told them, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the Vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Fathers Kingdom. Saint Paul relates the ſame inſtitution, in the eleventh chapter of the firſt Epiſtle to the Corinthians. His words are in ver. 24. This is my body which is broken for you; and in verſ. 25, 26. This cup is the New Teſtament in my blood, this do ye as oft as you drink it in remembrance of me. Then he addeth, For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do ſhew the Lords death till he come.
To this inſtitution we muſt alwayes return: And all that men have invented without or againſt this inſtitution, cannot have the force of Law. Wherefore it is neceſſary before all things, to examine the Doctrine of the Roman Church by that rule. But before we go further, we muſt obſerve that the Roman Bible hath falſified the words of this inſtitution: And that whereas Saint Paul ſaith, This is my body (c)foreign.which is broken for you; there is in the Vulgar verſion, This is my body which ſhall be delivered for you; putting tradetur for frangitur. And whereas Saint Luke ſaith,(d)foreign. which is ſhed for you; the ſame verſion ſaith, which ſhall be ſhed for you; fundetur for funditur. Which depravations hinder the underſtanding to diſcern, that Chriſt ſpeaks of a Sacramental effuſion and fraction, and of a body which is broken in the Euchariſt; thereby ſtopping a window, whence we fetch much light, as we ſhall ſee hereafter.